7-13-2342. Consolidation of county water and/or sewer districts -- election required. (1) Two or more districts organized under the provisions of part 22 and this part may consolidate at any time upon petitions submitted to the board of directors of each district. The petitions must be in the form required for petitions for the organization of districts. Each petition must be signed by not less than 10% of the qualified electors of the territory included within the district.

(2) The petitions may be granted by ordinance of the board of directors of each district. The ordinances must be submitted for adoption or rejection by the qualified electors.

(3) If the ordinances are approved, the president and secretary of the boards of directors of each district shall certify that fact to the secretary of state and to the county clerk of the county or counties in which the districts are located. On receipt of the certificate, the secretary of state shall within 10 days issue a certificate reciting the passage of the ordinances and the consolidation of the districts. A copy of the certificate must be transmitted to and filed with the county clerk of each county in which the consolidated district is situated.

(4) After the date of the certificate, the districts are considered to be consolidated and consist of one district with all the rights, privileges, and powers set forth in part 22 and this part and necessarily incident to those rights, privileges, and powers.

(5) The number and manner of selection and election of directors of the consolidated district must be the same as the number and manner of selection and election of directors of newly organized districts.